OpenAI must soon mitigate risks tied to ChatGPT in the European Union. The platform faces new obligations concerning minor safety, user mental health, and illegal content.
This enforcement stems from ChatGPT receiving a new classification. It is now classified as a Very Large Online Search Engine under the Digital Services Act.
The European Commission also applied strict regulations to two other platforms. Reddit and Roblox now carry the designation of Very Large Online Platforms.
The Digital Services Act enforces several major restrictions on these designated entities. Platforms cannot target advertisements toward minors.
The law also bans the use of sensitive personal data for ad targeting. This prohibition covers religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and political beliefs.
Additionally, the rules demand clearer transparency regarding recommendation algorithms. Companies must explain how these systems operate to users.
These designations apply specifically to services reaching a certain threshold. Platforms and search engines hit Very Large status by averaging at least 45 million monthly users in the EU.
Henna Virkkunen serves as the EU executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy. She commented on the new mandates in an official announcement.
“These new designations mean that ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox will now be held to a higher standard of scrutiny and accountability in the European Union, in line with their large impact on our citizens and society,” Virkkunen stated.
ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox must meet full compliance requirements by a specific deadline. All three companies have until the end of December 2026 to adhere to the rules.
